2017 Progressive Poem

I’m here to tell you that building a poem with 29 other poets has shivered my timbers and set my castle alight. Read down, and you will see my line, bold and italicized, emerge like a flying monkey from the otherwise well-mannered unfolding. I think it may be carrying a torch. Or is that my hair on fire? (Terror, you cannot defeat me.)

The Secret Inside the Book

I’m fidget, friction, ragged edges—
I sprout stories that frazzle-dazzle,
stories of castles, of fires that crackle,
with dragonwords that smoke and sizzle.

But edges sometimes need sandpaper,
like swords need stone and clouds need vapour.
So I shimmy out of my spurs and armour
facing the day as my fickle, freckled self.

I thread the crowd, wear freedom in my smile,
and warm to the coals of conversation.Enticed to the stage by strands of story,I skip up the stairs in anticipation.

Flip around, face the crowd, and freeze!
Shiver me. Look who’s here. Must I disappear?By hook or by crook, I deserve a second look!I cheer. Please, have no fear. Find the book.

But wait! I’ll share the lines I know by heart.
Mythicalhowls, fierytones slip from my lips
Blue scales flash, claws rip, the prophecy begins
Dragonworld weaves webs that grip. I take a trip…

“Land Ho!” (“Land Ho!”) We’ve hooked the whole crowd.
So it’s true what they say: the play IS the thing.
Stepping back from my blocking, theatre grows loud…
I draw my sword, while shielding the BOOK–the house din dies.

Thanks to Idea-Hatcher and Logo-Thatcher Extraordinare: Irene Latham at Live Your Poem. I added links to all the posts proffering lines thus far, and I read back over all the analysis. I love you all, and I’m happy I wrestled terror to the tarmac. I look forward to seeing where you take it from here.

I updated this post with the final lines with links to their posts. I leave my line bold and italic. Here is the final on Irene’s site.

This turned out to be such fun. Sometimes the scariest things turn out to be the most amazing adventures.

Oh, yeah, I can relate. There is such an element of fear involved in this “passing of torch”! I understand fully and wonder if my hair shall be set aflame whilst I surmise it is only the glowing castle walls alight with blazing words! Yeah. Like that!
Love your line! And thanks for linking the poets, too.

By jiminy, “by hook or by crook” plus internal rhyme keeps that rough-edged energy going! Confidence in the face of terror. My one hope for this poem is that it will stay fidgety, fricative, and refuse any graceful softness. Thanks for helping. And I just realized that we haven’t had the word “fiction” additive to “friction”! What an opportunity.

But what I really love is your introduction to the exercise. Were you really that scared?

Well, I might have been a bit dramatic. I was feeling anxious about my kids being on vacation and the pressure to write a great line on an already busy day. Luckily Jan posted the night before, and I was able to write something on a quiet Thursday night rather than a chaotic Saturday jam-packed with soccer reffing, violin lesson, soccer game, dinner with my Aunt and egg-coloring with the Egg-bot my kids and hubby built. Friday was more of the same, errands, hiking, dinner out, etc. I love when my kids are home but all other work generally ceases. 🙂

You might have doubted yourself, Brenda, but WE didn’t. This poem is SO right up your alley!
Perfect addition. Love that brief human wavering and then the finding of a foothold in these couple of lines – our character feels real, and this is my favorite PP so far, for sure. Hats, helmets, tiaras off to you for such a fine line!

You’re right, that first line is part of what led me to my line. The see-sawing between fear and bravery throughout is inspiring. Isn’t that what most of us feel inside? This was fun to participate in. Thanks!

No other idea came elbowing its way into my head, so I went with this. Could have been because it was errand and hiking day. My kids take all my attention when they are on vacation. Can’t wait to see the next line! 🙂